Telephonograph



Aug. 29 1.939.

TELEPHONOGRAPH Filed Aug. l1, 1956 H. HIPPLE l 2,171,3664

Patented Aug." 29, 1939 TELEPHONOGRAPH Hermann Hipple, Munich, Germany, assigner to Willy Mller, Munich, Germany Application August 11, 1936., Serial N'o. 95,337

In Germany August 15, 1935 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tele- .phone systems.

It is particularlydirected to a telephone system wherein at properly equipped substations, 5 communications received during the subscribers absence may be automatically recorded and may be taken from the recordupon the subscribers return. 'I'he invention also has the object of providing a telephone system of this character in which at -the properly equipped sub-station, hereinafter called the master stationthe connections for recording incoming calls and communications are established by a connection controlling member which is actuated automatically upon -a call reaching the master station in the subscribers absence.

The invention .also has the object of providing a system of this character wherein the master-station is equipped with a signalling or message delivering apparatus informing the subscriber calling this master station. during the master subscribers absence, that the message to be delivered by the calling subscriber will be recorded.

Another object-of the invention is to providea system of this character in which the messages recorded at the masterstation may be listened to from the record made at the master station, so that the master subscriber may, prior tohis return to the master station, learn what communications were made with the master sta- 'tion during his absence.

Another object of the invention is to render 35 the reproduction of the messages recorded at the master station dependent upon the use of a code.

for the purpose of enabling solely the persons'acquainted with this code, as forA instance, the master or his agent' or some controlling oilcial of the system, to listen to these messages froml any station in the system. l. v The invention, furthermore,- has, the object of, providinga telephone system oi this character wherein the code comprises the utterance of sounds or tones at predetermined intervals into that apparatusfrom Awhich the master or his' agent intends to receive the reproduced messages recorded during his absence at the master station..

The invention, furthermore, 'as the' object of correlating the code in accord nce with which the master or controlling official supervises the reproduction of the messagesl recorded during his -bned with the recording machine II.

delivered by the signalling apparatus'forming a part of the equipment of the master station. Another object of the invention is to equip the master station with a connection controlling member automatically actuated by a motor upon the receipt of a call during the masters absence and whereby the sequence of connections for reproducing the recorded `messages is effected upon the use of the predetermined code.

The invention, furthermore, has the object of providing a system of this character, wherein the master or controlling ocial of the system has' it in his power to selectively alter the code which controls the reproduction of the messages to the party listening vfrom any sub-station of the system.

With these and numerous other objects in View, the invention is described in the following specication in which reference is made to the drawing showing a wiring diagram of the master station.

The equipment which is to be positioned at the master station or station ofv the controlling oi'llcial or owner of the entire system comprises an ordinary` telephone apparatus I which in this instance is combined with an electromagnet 36 adapted to raise the receiver 36| here rigidly combined with microphone 362 when an incorn-` ing call is received.

The telephone apparatus at this station is com- This recording machine operates under the well known and 53 in this machine'support the steel wire'40 absence with that message or signal which is or tape and pull vthis wire or tape through the. magnetic control device 54, which device carries the magnets for responding to the locally varied magnetized portions by 'induction or for altering the local magnetic conditions of the carrierstoextinguish the local magnetiaations. for restoration purposes.

This recording machine II actuates a' worm- I02 driving a worm gear` |03. This worm gear --I03 f rictionally operates the disc |04 having a 50A projection or nose adapted to engage upon rotation of said disc, one end of the lever 69. Upon actuation of this lever, either one of two sets of contact springs 'I0-'I3 or 80-83 respectively is actuated, to be moved from normally .open to `troller drum IV which is assembled of of several controller drum discs.

sets of contacts occurs upon setting the machine II for recording operation, and it also 0ccurs upon termination of the reproduction.

. 'Ihe line conductors 3 and 9 lead to the master sub-station I from the telephone system of which this station forms a part. Conductors 55 connected with the microphope lead from the substation I to'the recording machine II, and other conductors 59 extend from the receiver of this sub-station I also to the recording machine II. The conductors 6I also extend from this tel'ephone to a relay III. This relay may be connected up in the manner in which in an ordinary telephone sub-station extension Signal bell or buzzer is connected, the signal bell or buzzer for calling sub-station I not being shown in the drawing. Relay III is a relay which releases its amature slowly when it is deenergized. Upon energization by the calling current (the switch |35 being closed), the relay I0 attracts its armature 363, thereby closing a contact c and opening the contact e. This operation establishes a circuit from a line I connected with thesource of energy (not shown). through vcontact c to the electromagnet 36 and back to line 2 connected with the other pole of the source of energy. A shunt circuit is also established from electromagnet 36, wire 23| to electromagnet 19, wires 202, 203, electromagnet I3, wire '204 back to line 2.

The electromagnet 36,Y therefore, will raise the hook for the receiver (even though the latter remain on the hook) and thereby connect the telephone I into the system.

'Ihe electromagnet 19 in conjunction'with the electromagnet 63 and 1l serves for servicing or controlling a switch assembly Il by means of which through remote control a motor 63 may be supplied with current over wires 33 or whereby the the motor 63 may be cut oi from the supply respectively. This motor G3 is a reversible motor: it operates the reels 43 and l! forming part of a signal message apparatus III. The motor G3 also operates a contact roller or cona plurality trol switch closes the circuit for the motor 53 at the point V of the remote control switch, thereby leading the current through the conductor cord 38 to the motor 53 to start the same in a predetermined direction, namely, forward.

The controller drumvIV is imparted rotation through the motor 53 for which purpose gear transmission comprising the worm 52 and worm gear 61 are provided.y The end disc SI 'of the controller drum causes the current to flow to the amplifier Ill.

The circuit extends from line I through the mercury switch 33, then closed, wires 235, 231, amplier III, wire 233, contact finger I2I, contactor disc 3l, contact linger |23, wire 2l! to,

wires 236; 233 and to line 2. I

The controller drum disc has a sector at which this current is interrupted, the closure of the Vcontact closing position. This actuation of these current for the amplier |33 being aiected by the disc SII solely after said disc has turned through a predetermined part of one revolution.

It is advisable to actuate the rela'ys and magnets by means of direct current. In places where alternating current solely is available, the alternating current must be transformed and rectified. 'I'he device for transforming and rectifying the alternating current is .not shown, but it may be assumed that it is enclosed in the housing of the recording machine Il, the current after having been transformed to the necessary voltage and rectied, being conducted to and from the recording machine through the leads 50, 5I respectively.

The motor S3 not 'only drives the controller drum IV but it also drives through a transmission gearing the reels or drums I8, 49, each of which supports a steel wire or steel tape variably magnetized at different points in such manner as to reproduce some general message or communication. The currents which are induced by the variable localized magnetic alterations of this steel wire or tape in the reproducing head l1 flow through wires ZIII, the amplier |00, and from there through wires 2II tothe microphone conductors 56. The microphone therefore functions as if it were spoken into. The subscriber making the call from some sub-station of the system rst hears solely that message which is delivered from the machine DI. This message informs the Vcalling subscriber of the number ofthe station with which he has been connected, and it will also convey to the calling subscriber the fact that his own communication will now bev recorded.

The movement of the controller drum IV is effected from the worm gear 61 through a cam 55 on the gear which upon rotation enters into engagement with the pawl 64 of the'drum to impart the movement to actuatefrom then on the controller drum. s

The contact sector of disc 3 of the drum IV is conductively connected with the contact segments of the discs I and 5, which segments are not visible in the drawing, and this conductive disc 3 also is in conductive connection with the conductive sectors of the discs 6 and 1. Y

When the controller drum IV rotates, the end disc moves its conductive segment away from the ngers 93,' |06. Relay III had become de- Venergized, since the calling current by this time ceased to \ilow. 'I'he release of its armature again closes the springv contacts at e, but although the contact e is in.4 connection with linger I IIS, no current will iiow through the closed contact as the iinger |06 is now off the conductive segment of the disc 85. l

The currents inducedfrom the steel wire or tape in the message signalling machine III within the inductor device 41 are carried through cord 2III to the amplifier IBO and from there in amplified condition not only to the microphone conductor 55 but also through the telephone iner through the relays 31 and 34. i

The circuit for relay 3l includes wire2I3 exd' ltending from the amplifier, thevrelay.3l,` wire 2li, mercury switch I1 (then closed), wire 2I5, contactors |20, I I3, then connected through their disc segment, wire 2li to the amplier. The

ampliiled as' described, flow in the output circuit of the amplicircuit for relay 31 includes bides the serially 75 Vconnected amplifier and relay 31 wire 2|1 extending to the contactor finger |I8v of disc 89 which is then conductively connected through the contact sector of this disc with nger II9, wire 2I0 back to the amplifier. l n 'I'he relay 34 is a relay which releases its armature slowly only, when it is disconnected from the energizing circuit owing to the contact linger IIS, |20 ceasing to be conductively connected through the controller disc 09. The relay 34,

.however,. is not energized from the amplifier through the mercury switch since now theIV contact fingers I| 9,120 of the controller drum disc 89 are not connected through the same con- "the armature of the relay 31.

ciuctivev segment of the disc 89. Wires 2|9 connect contact fingers II8, II9 with the mercury -switch I8, so that upon closure of this switch the relay 31 may be energized even though the contact fingers I I8, IIS are not connected with each other at the drum 89. f

'I'he vibratory currents induced in the head 4I of the signalling vmachine III, therefore, will cause a vibratory` movement' to be imparted to The armature of this relay thereby rapidly opens and closes a spring contact |24 from which wire 220 extends jointly to the relays II, I2, |3.'|4.

The contact fingers |I2,' ||3, ||4, |I5 associated with the controller drum discs- 4.- 5,' 6 and 'I respectively are severally connected with the relays II to I4 inclusive. Now whenever any one of these contactngers II2||5 happens to be conductively connected vthrough the pertaining disc segment with the contact linger III of disc 3, the respective electromagnetl I, I2, I3

or I4 will be energized at each closure of contact |24, and its respective armature |50, I5I, |52,

- to be transmitted by this machine III.

When the controller disc- 88 associated with contact fingers IIB, III has been rotated so far that the contact lingers IIB, III are connected with each other through the conductivev segment, current flows through the lead 5|, wires 2|, 222 to the contact fingers H6, and `I II, wire 23, to a spring contact |25. ythen in closed condition, and to the electromagnet 4I of the recording machine II. It also ows through wire 225 to the electromagnets 58, 'I5and II and back to the wire 50. i

The electromagnet 4| being energized, actuates the recording machine II through the key T.

'I'he electromagnet 58 being energized retains the mercury switchv 33 Ain closed position, while rthe mercury switch I8 rigidlyassociated therewith is open.

'I'he electromagnet 'I5 closes the mercury switch` I 1, but opens the current through the mercury switch 32 connected therewith.

The electromagnet II upon being energized tilts the mercury switch 3| to currentinterrupting position,` as shown.

This is the position which these parts occupy when the message magnetically superimposed on the wire of the signalling machine III has been completely delivered to the calling party.

'I'he calling party who had listened to this message now begins to speak into his telephone. His own conversation is nowrecorded in the recording machine II.

'I'he controller drum IV continues to rotate until one revolution has been completed. At that time a cam 08 on the worm gear 6I strikes from below against ,the rocker arm 38, which is thereby turned at the opposite end towards the springs 91 to close them. 'I'he spring contact 3l now being closed, the current flows through wire 222 to the' electromagnet 68, which upon energization acts on the key R of the remote control switch 84. This key serves for maintaining the motor 83 supplied with current adapted to reverse the direction of the motor. The worm gearing 62, 81 will then rotate the controller drum IV backwards, and the gearing actuated by the motor 63 also will move the magnetically influenced message wire in the opposite direction through the signalling machine -III to rewindA the reel. ment of the controller drum, the cam 86 again strikesv therocker arm 98 to move the same into the position shown in the drawing, thereby establishing contact at the springs 9G in order to energize the electromagnet 14, the circuit including lead 5|, wires 22|, 222, contact springs 96, electromagnet I4, wire 226, wire 224 and 'lead 50. I'he electromagnet 14 operates the remote control switch 84 through the key S to stop.

the movement of the motor 63.

While the calling subscriber now delivers his message, the relayv34 associated with the ampliiier IOI is continuously energized, and its armature, therefore, remains attracted. The circuit includes the amplier electromagnet 34, mercury switch II and contact ngers IIS, |20. When, however, the calling party has completed his message, which message is being recorded in the recording machine II, the relay 34 becomes deenergized, and itsarmature |26 enters the position shown'in the drawing, making a contact witha spring, which permits the current to iiow from the conductor I f to the contact nger 93 and |06 at the controller disc 85, wires 228, 229,

raised position', so that the receiver again dropsv with its hook.

The electromagnet 42 tilts the mercury switch 39 to current interrupting position, thereby pre-l ventingthe supply current flowingin the linesv I, 2 from continuing through the system. When no more current can lilow into the system thru the line I, 2, the recording operation is terminated. y

An oilicial acquainted with the requirements, the owner of the plant, or any party in supervision may now from any subscribers station cause the recording machine II of station I to reproduce messages or messages previously recorded. To permit this remote control of reproduction to take place, a certain predetermined sound code must be observed. Tones reproduced at certain times, or sounds spoken into the telephone at-certain intervals at the station from which the controlling oiilcial makes the Upon completing the return move-v call will affect' the electrical connections, to

establish those circuits which are required for the reproduction of the message entered in machine II. This reproduction requires the operation of the signalling machine IH, which is being operated whenever a call is made.

The timing feature of the sound code is correlated to the selectively `changeable setting of the dises 4, 5, 6 and. 1. on the controller drum IV. The segments of lthese discs are contacted by theirjrespective fingers ||2 to 5 at selectively determined times, depending on vthe setting of the discs. Switches 300, 30|, 302, 303 also may be set for selectively timedv operation. Hence, itis feasible to make any code combinations utilizing selectively determined intervals occurring in the delivery of the general signalling message of machine III, the code prescribing that certain of these intervalsmay be used, and that certain intervals may be observed without utilization.

In this manner it is only the owner or supervising or controlling oiiicial of the system or anybody who is thoroughly acquainted with the code who can iniiuence the apparatus for reproducing the recorded speech of the former call in the proper Way, or preventing the reproduction of the language in a manner which would be comprehensive to anybody. E

Upon the origination of this control call which may be made from any subscribers station in the system, the alterations which initially occur Within the system are exactly the same as has been described above with respect to the call that was nally recorded in machine II.V

Upon the calling signal reaching station I, the calling current energizes the relay I0. This frelay as described above, again places the reinto the microphone of his apparatus at the very springs |24 at relay 31' were closed. It would includelead 5|, wires 22|, 222, contact ngers.

I I, l I2, electromagnet 22:4, line 50.

Now, the closure of this contact'at the springs |24 may be effected by an impulse flowing from the'amplifler |0| into relay 31, and this impulse is` produced by the calling subscriber speaking springs |24, wire instant at which the controller drum disc 4 hasl reached a conductive connection with the con,-` .tact finger ||2. 'I'he path of this impulse extends from the amplier |01 to' the contact fingers |20, |19 then connected with each other, and tothe/relay 31. Upon producing this current impulse, aA current flows from the line 5|\ through the contact fingers l2 to the electromagnet A and 'from there to the springs |24 then in contact with eachI other, and through wire 224 to the line 50. The electromagnet is energized by this current. It immediately attracts its' amature |50 so that this locking pawl armature releases the spring 22 which has a biassing arm at its lower end to swing-it upon release 4toilvards the opposite contact pointper-A taining to the set of contact springs 26. The path of acurrent would now be open from line 5| through the switch 300 to the right hand spring 26 and to the left hand spring of the setA of springs 21 of the next adjacent switch 30|. Here the path would end.

But when the contact nger H3 of the controller drum is in conductive engagement with the conductor segment on the drum disc 5, and if the controlling ofiicial again pronounces a sound, the current impulse produced will again close contact, and the magnet I2r will 'be energized in the same manner in which previously the electromagnet had been energized through the contact iinger ||2, and pertaining conductor segment of the controller disc drum 4. 'I'he current would not continue from the left hand contact spring 21 and spring 23 since the spring 23 of switch 30| is biassed to remain even after release in the position shown in the drawing.

From the above it will be seen that various possibilities of combinations for the sound code are provided. 'In the ii'rst place, the location of the conductive segments on the 'discs 4 to 1 might be altered with respect to the pertaining Contact ngers ||2 to4 H5, and in the second p1acethe biassing attachments of the switches 300, 30|, 302, 303 might be selected as desired. The controlling official, therefore, must know accurately at whichintervals in the delivery of the message from the signalling apparatus DI the relay 31 may be energized b y the current impulse set up through a tone-uttered by the oiiicial. He must know``at which instants the contact ngers ||2 to 5 will permit the current to pass and which switches 300 to 303 are set to permit the current to flow through. Whoever is not acquainted with the code" could not induce the reproduction from the recording apparatus II.

When then the calling controlling oilicial has actuated the magnets to I4 in proper sequence in'accordance withthe intervals of the message delivered "by the signalling apparatus III, the

.current flows from the conductor 5I to the locksegment on"the controller drum disc 88 connected the contact fingers H6 and ||1.

The energization of the 'electromagnet 51 causes the mercury switch l0 to be tilted to close the.

circuit through' this switch Il and to open the circuit through the companion mercury switch 33.

The energization of the electromagnet 40 causes the armature'95 thereof to be attracted: unless this armature is already in that-position in which it is shown.

The. controller drum 4 upon continuing its r0- tation will cause the contact fingers |01, |00 t0 be connected with'each other, so that the current will nd a path to the electromagnets 44 and 16 tlhrough the properly positioned switches 30| to 3 3.

The electromagnet 44 inthe recording'machine II sets this machine for reverse operation, therewhich it had been unwound.

' 45 making this control call.

,and line 50. signal.

The electromagnet 16 upon being energized, tilts the mercury switch 32 to current closing position and tilts the companion switch I1 t0 current opening position.

In the continued rotation of the controller drum, the contact lingers |09, are connected with each other through the disc 81, and the current will then flow from line to wires 22|, fingers |09, ||0, to the electromagnet I9 which is associated with the switch assembly 300, 30|, 302, 303 and to line` 50. Upon energization, the electromagnet I9 pulls the bar 20 against the tension of spring 2| towards the left and thereby moves the switch springs 224 to 25 inclusive .to the position illustratedrin the drawing to contact .the

left hand companion springs 26 to 29 respectively.

In this position the switch springs 22 to 25 are once more locked by the locking pawls |50' to |53. 'I'he mercury switch I1 having been tilted (through the energization of electromagnet .16) to current opening position, will cause the electromagnet 34 to be deenergized, thereby closing the contact |26.- But since the mercury switch I8 is now in circuit closing position, the circuit for relay 31 is closed for the current emanating from the amplifier |0I, so that the voice currents in amplied condition flow through 'relay 31.

When the recording machine II completes the rewinding of the magnetized wire or tape to its initial position,.the projection 99 on worm gear |03 strikes in the gear transmission of this machine, the right hand end4 of lever 69 from above,

vso that this-1ever moves the springs 00, 0|,'82

and 83 to contact closing position.

The current now flows from the conductor 5| to the contactiinger 93 of the controller drum and to the contact finger |06. It is continued through wire 228 to the spring contacts 82 and 03, and the electromagnet 45 of the recording machine II and wires 234', 224 to line 50. The electromagnet 45 of thisvmachine 'now operates the key W which starts this recording machine for reproducing the recorded messages which are now transmitted to the telephone of the party l lever are opened and thelcontacts to 13 shown above said lever are closed. Before, however, this closure of these spring contacts 10 to 13 is completed, the lever has moved the insulated lug |33 at the opposite end away from the contact Vspring |32. This spring engages, therefore, the

contact |34 closing a circuit for the buzzer or bell |30 from line 5| .to contact fingers 93, |06, wire 220, wire 229, bell |30, springs |32, |34, wire 224 This bell now renders a closing Immediately thereafter, the lever effects the closure of the contact between springs |35, |36

shown beneath the left hand end of lever 69,A

which closure also takes place before the set of contacts 10 to 13 at the other'end bf the lever isclosed. f

If upon hearing the closing signal rendered by the buzzer or bell |30, the party making the call utters a. sound into his microphone,V the electromagnet 31 is energized throughth'e amplifier current fromy |0l, owing through the mercury switch Il now in circuit-closing position. The relay 31 closes the contact |24.

The current now ows from the conductor'l to the ngers 93, |06 of the controller drum, wires 220, 229, contact |26, cord 236, to the set v'of springs e, wire 250 to the spring contacts |35, `|36 which are closed, to the e1ectromagnet16,

contact |24 and wire 50.

Energization of the electromagnet 18 tilts the mercury switch 3| to circuit closing position. During this movement of this mercury switch 'to circuit closing position, the reproducing machine II is still set for reproduction. The current continues to flow, therefore, from the conductor 5| to the contact fingers 93, |06 into the mercuryV switch 3|, to the contact springs 12 and 13 which are closed, and to the electromagnet 6|.

The elcctromagnet 6| attracts the right hand end of its armature lever 94. 'I'his releases the armature lever 95 of the electromagnet 40 and as a nose on said lever had engaged the spring |21, the spring is now free to move under its own resiliency into engagement with the companion spring 92. At the same time, the springs 9| and |28 at the left hand of the armature lever 94 are closed by this lever, permitting thereby the current from the contact spring13 to continue through these closed springs contacts 9|, |2|3into the electromagnet v44 of the recording machine II. 'I'his electromagnet again operates the key R to reverse the movement of the recording machine.

In these last described steps, Y the contact springs 12, 13 are in conductive connection and are maintained in this connection by the lever v|59. The contact springs 10 and 1| of the .same

set, however, are still open. The recording machine II, therefore, operates now in reverse, imparting a reverse movement to the worm gear |03 without, however, imparting this reverse Inovement to the cam disc |04, said last named cam disc vengaging with its projection the right hand end ofthe lever 69 which prevents the disc: |04 from following the movement of' the worm gear. 'Ihe calling party now having received the reproduction of the message previously recorded in the machine II and also having received the clos- .v

ing signal, again restores the receiver to the hook.y The recording machine II and the worm gear |03 has continued its movement in reverse until it arrived at theinitial position. In this position, the lug 99 of the wormv gear strikes from above against .the lever 69 which now closes the contacts 80, 8|.

This provides a path for the current from the line 5| to the contact lingers 93, |06, wire 228,

contact springs 92, |21, contact springs 0| and 60, and to the electromagnets 46, 42 and 35, wires 234, 224 to line 50, as upon reproduction and recording. The'machine is thereby againstopped and" the receiver in the sub-station I drops onto its hook. v

If the' party making this control call after having noticed the signal rendered by the bell |30 does not desire to extinguish the record made in 'the recording machine II,v he must not utter that sound which brought about the energization of the relay 31 through the amplifier current. The relay 31 will then not be energized. i The contact |24 will remain in open condition, and the contact springs |35, |36 which had been closed by the contact lever 69 in the previously described sequence of operation cannot continue the path of this current. The contact springs 10 and 1|, however, will subsequently be moved. to closing position. The current then fiows through this closed contact from the wire 5|, contact fingers 93, |06, `to the'springs 1`| and 10, and through the mercury vswitch 32 to the contacts 42, 35l and 46,

as described above, at the end of the recording. The machine, therefore, again is restored to its initial position and the receiver drops.

What I claim is:

l. In a telephone system having a line leadingv to a subscribers station, a speech recording and reproducing machine at said station, a message delivery apparatus at the station, an automatic connection control means for successively placing Said apparatus and said machine in connection with the line, a motor operatively associated with said connection control means and said message delivery apparatus, a relayv conductively connected with the automatic connection control means when said last named means has-been moved by the motor to a predetermined position, the connections between the Ymessage delivery apparatus and the line being under control of said relay and another relay conductively connected with said connectionv control means, means operable from any sub-station of the system for energizing said la'st named relay, and

means under control of said last named relay for l reproducing the message recorded in said machine when the latter had been placed in connection with the line, A

2. In a telephone system having a line leading to a sub-station, the combinationl of a speech recording and reproducing machine, a' message delivery apparatus, a connection control means for successively connecting said apparatus and said machine with the line, a motor operatively associated with said connection control means and said apparatus, a relay controlling the operation lof the machine for recording, means dependent upon the position of the connection controlling means for energizing said relay subsequently to the operation of said message delivery apparatus and another relay conductively connected with said connection control means, means operable from any sub-station of the system for energizing said last named 'relayv and means under control of said last named relay for reproducing the message recorded in said ma' chine when the latter had been placed in connection with the line.

3. In a ltelephone systemhaving a line leading to a subscribers station, `the combination of a speech recording and reproducing machine, a'

message delivering apparatus, said machine and apparatus each comprising a traveling steel carrier for locally magnetically differentiated p0rtions, an inductively operable element in opposition to said steel carrier, a connection control means, a motor operatively associated with said connection control means and said message delivery apparatus, an amplier interposed between .the inductively operable element of the message delivery apparatus and the line, vmeans operable by the connection control means for energizing said amplifier, said amplier being permanently connected with` the sub-station, whereby the voice currents produced by the inductively opera- Ative elementof the message delivery apparatus l of said last named relay for reproducing the message reported in said machine when the latsubscribers station, the combination .oi a speech recording and reproducing macmne, a message delivery apparatus, a connection control means, a motor operatively associated with said ap-A paratus and said connection control means, and circuit elements under the control of said means for rendering the speech recording machine adapted to successively record in-coming speech, reverse the machine to reproduce said`incoming speech and stop the machine, a switch interposed between said connection control means and said machine, and means actuated by said machine for altering the position of the switch to render said message delivery apparatus for successively establishing connection `between ysaid message delivery apparatus and the line, and the machine and the line, and selectively variable, means operable `from any substation of the system for connecting the machine for reproduction with the line, said selectivelyvariable means being operable through an incoming call at the said substation, whereby the speech reproduced by the machine may be received at any sub-station of the system.

6. Ina telephone system, having a line leading to a subscribers station, the combination of a message delivery apparatus, a speech recording and reproducing machine, an automatic. connection control means for successively connecting said apparatus with the line and said machine for recording with the line, and means operable fromany sub-station o f the system in accordance with a predetermined code for setting said machine for reproducing the speech recorded thereon on the line, whereby saidspeech on the record of the machine may be received at any sub-station of the line by a subscriber acquaint with the code.

7. In a telephone system having a line leading toa subscribers station, a message delivery apparatus at the station, a speech recording 'and reproducing machine at the station, an automatic connection control means, said automatic connection control means being provided with a plurality of elements displaceable relatively to each other selectively, and means cooperating with said selectively displaceable elements and operablev from any substation ofthe system' for setting the reproducing machine to reproduction and connecting it with the line. whereby upon the operation of said selectively displaceable elements, of the connection control means, the speech recordedvon the recording machine may be reproduced and listened to at any station of the system, i

8. In a telephone system having a line leading 1 to a sub-station, 'a message delivery apparatus at said sub-station, arspeech recording and reproducing machine at said sub-station, an automaticvconnection control means forsuccessively connecting the apparatus'wlth the line and the recording'machine for speech vrecording purposes with the line, a relay, and means controllable` from any sub-station of the system but operable through the connection control means and said 75 the line by the message delivery apparatus.

9. In a telephone system having a line leading to a subscribersstation, the combination of a message delivery apparatus, a speech'reccrding and reproducing machine, automatic connection control means, a motor, means for starting said motor upon an incoming call, said motor being operatively associated with said connection control means and said message delivery apparatus, the connection control means being provided with a plurality of selectively movable elements, a plurality of switches, electromagnets controllingfsaid switches, conductors connecting said electromagnets with the selectively placeable elements of the automatic connection control means, wherebysaid switches are moved in predetermined timely sequence dependent upon the selective setting of said displaceable elements of ythe connection control means, and means operable upon a predetermined setting of said switches for v reproducing the speech recorded on the recording machine on vthe line, the connections between said relatively movable 4elements of theconnection control means and of the electromagnets controlling the switches being dependent upon the timely sequence of voice currents arriving through the line, .whereby the Setting of the reproducing machine and the connection of said reproducing machine withthe line is rendered dependent upon the relative displacement of said selectively settable elements of the connection control means and of th arrival of voice currents at selectively predetermined intervals over the line. y 10. In a telephone system having a line leading to the subscribers station, the combination of a message delivery apparatus adapted to deliver portions of a' message at intervals lfrom each other, a speech recording and reproducing machine, an automaticA connection control means, a

motor operatively associated with said connection control means and said `message delivery apparatus, means for rendering said motor operative upon'arrival of an incoming call'at the substation, the connection control means beingtively connectible with said selectively settable elements of the connection control means during the motor 'induced movement of saidv means, a4 plurality of switches, each controlled by one of said electromagnets, means for normally holding all of said switches in a predetermined position, means biassing said switches selectively into diierent vdirections whereby upon release 'of said switches from the holding means controlled by .said electromagnets, switches biassedl in onev direction will alter their position. while other switches biassed lin another direction will retain their position in spite of their release, circuit connections between said switches and the repro.-

ducing machine, means energiaable by voice cur-l rents from the line for establishing. circuits through said selectively settable elements and said electromagnets, andA means under control of the connection control means for setting the recording andy reproducing machine to reproduction on the line, whereby the reproduction of the vrecorded speech into vtheline matically operative upon speech recorded on the' machine is rendered effective through the voice currents and'through the setting of the selectively settable elements` and through the` .selective biassing of said switchesthe timing of the voice currents for completing the circuits energizing, the electromagnets being determined by bringing the in'- tervals inthe message delivered from the'message delivery apparatus in coincidence with the setting of the selectively settable elements of the connection control means. v i

11. In a telephone systemhaving a line Aleading to a sub-station, a speech recording andl reproducing machine at the sub-station, .a

message delivery apparatus at the sub-station, ank

whereby upon the movement of said connection control means, the voice currents coming in from the line will be recorded in ampli'ed-condition on the recording machine, elements selectively settable on .the automatic connection control means, switches operatively connected with said elements, said switches being selectively movablel from circuitinterrupting position to circuit closing position when said connections between saidy selectively settable elementsA and controlmeans.

for4 said switches are completed,` a relay, an

amplifier in the output whereof said relay located, the automatic connection controlfmeans establishing the connection between saidfrelay selectively predetermined sequence, and vmeans depending upon the arrival. of voice curre'nts'at said amplifier at selectively timed intervals o f the message delivered by the message delivery apparatus-for, intermittently energizing said relay,

and the control elements for the switches in the connection control'means and the recording machine cooperatively placing said recording machine into position for lreproduction, whereby through incoming v oice currents'in a selectively timed sequence and at selectively predetermined intervals, the recording machine is set for reproducing the speech recorded thereon into the line.`

12. In a telephone system having a sub-station connected with a line, the combination' of 'a spee'ch recording machine, a message delivery apparatus, an automatic connection control means, a motor operatively associated with said apparatus andvsaid means, means under. control of an incoming call for selectively energizing said motor, means interposed between the automatic connection control means and the line .for setting the recording machine to reproduction, said interposed means becoming operatived uponV the' vtion to intervals of the message delivered by the messa'gedelivery apparatus and in predetermined relation to selectively settable 1 elements Yof the connection control means, whereby the recording machine is set and operated-,t "'reproducethe sub-station from the line-f r 'automaticallyrestoring the message delivery apparatus, connection control means and recordingv and reproducing machine to its initial position.V 'A V- 13. In a telephone system having a line leading to a subscribers station, fthe combination of a speech recording and reproducing machine,za

message delivery apparatus, an automatic connection control means for successively connecting said apparatus and the machine to the line, whereby the calling subscriber is informed that the message to be spoken by him will be recorded, means at the sub-station operable from any other sub-Stationen the line through voice currents uttered from said second named sub-station into the'line in predetermined timely relation with respect to the message deliveredby the apparatus of the rst named sub-station for reproducing the speech recorded in the rst named sub-station into the line to be received at the second named sub-station, and means for ln' dicating at the second named sub-station that the reproduction is terminated HERMANN HIPPLE. 

